Arsenal may lose Gallas – Transfer Talk

William Gallas will be allowed to talk to other clubs next month as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger sticks with his policy of not offering long-term deals to players in their 30s.

William Gallas has been in fine form for Arsenal this season

France international Gallas is out of contract in the summer but more critically he will celebrate his 33rd birthday at the start of next season and is looking for a last long-term deal.

He definitely won’t get that with the Gunners who have let players of the calibre of Dennis Bergkamp , Robert Pires and Jens Lehmann move to new clubs because they were over Wenger’s age threshold.

Gallas is enjoying a sterling year, playing some of his best football for ages, but there will be no exception even if it means losing him in January.

His departure to the pick of a number of clubs in Italy, Spain or France means Wenger could be in the market to buy West Ham centre-half Matthew Upson or Bolton counterpart Gary Cahill as a replacement.

But he is more likely to make a move for Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic.

Tottenham defender Michael Dawson has been linked with an £8million move to Sunderland but that won’t happen even if Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King both return to full health.

Dawson’s stock has risen immeasurably at White Hart Lane this season and he has been handed the captain’s armband by appreciative boss Harry Redknapp in recent matches.

Valencia striker David Villa’s main priority still remains a move to Barcelona but he could head to Real Madrid if they sell Karim Benzema to Manchester United.

A move to Chelsea or possibly Old Trafford could happen but only if the other two options are definitely ruled out.

Discount Liverpool and Arsenal from the Villa sweepstakes as they don’t have the cash to rival their two Premier League rivals.

Wenger’s search for a striker keeps taking him back to Edin Dzeko despite being linked with West Ham’s Carlton Cole, Andre-Pierre Gignac of Toulouse and Bordeaux’s Marouane Chamakh.

Sir Alex Ferguson is to offer £9m plus Nani for Benfica winger Angel di Maria while Aston Villa and Fulham are interested in former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant as he is no longer required at Real Zaragoza.

Everton are in talks with Valencia midfielder Manuel Fernandes about the possibility of the 23-year-old returning to Goodison Park for a third loan spell.

And Portsmouth could still be prevented from signing players in the new year, even if the club pay off all their transfer debts but if the ban is lifted, Grant wants to buy Wigan midfielder Olivier Kapo.

New QPR manager Paul Hart will be allowed to buy defender Mike Williamson and striker Tommy Smith from the Fratton Park club as long as the money covers the costs of the players which is still owed to Watford.